The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-04
A REVIEW OF CITY AFFAIRS.
Mayor Denny's Timely Address to the
Coms.an Council Last Evening.
Growth and Improvement of the City, the
Condition of Its Affairs and Its Needs
Reports of Municipal officers.

AT the regula- meeting of the Common Coun- |
Gil .sr night Mayor Denny addressed the body |
OF the manner in which the citys affairs had been
managed during the last year, speaking as follows
Gentlemen of the Common Council-One year has |
passed since we first met here as the peoples
servants Our citizens have been reasonably prosper
Gus during that time. Fewer complaints OF hard |
times have been heard than for several before
improvements throughout the city have been as ex
tensive could be expected, and the quality of the
buildings erected indicate a substantial, healthy |
growth. With the completion of the State Capitol |
the Young Mems Christian Association building and
the Union Depot, few cities in this country can
boast so many costly and tasty public structures
The city in its corporate capacity begjn to claim
its full share of this character of work None in the
United States of equal size can show perfect
and commodious public hall, or better public market
facilities than will be offered. Our City Hospital
has at last become of the best equipped in the
land and honor to the city. Too much praise
be given superintendent for his work
in building up the institution. We have engine
houses of good quality, and all we will need tor
| many years Our sewerage system has been nearly
completed although there few lines of sewer
yet badly needed and it to be regretted that the ten
cent special sewer-tax law of 1881 not taken ad.
vantage of years instead of before its repeal
in 1885. In securing the permanent in provements,
which have been in part referred to above a large
| debt has been contracted, which will soon begin to
mature in greater o less annual sums Providing
means to defray necessary running expenses and
pay the interest this debt and preparing to or
| refund the principal as 1t natures, Is the mater
| which will most concern and our successors tor
|
problems to solve in our municipal affairs, at this
| time, except these.
On coming into office, we found temporary loan of
| 800 600 made in November, 1885, to make up de-
hciencies in the accounts of the retiring
treasurer and defray current expenses This loan
was paid at maturity, the city's obligations have
always been. That amount has had to be again bor-
| rowed however. on account of many extraordinary
expenses of the past year. but for which would
have been able to pay off the greater part of the
former loan during the past year, without renewing
it. When we entered upon on, duties a year ago: we
| oa1paa adj OyltS of he
porary loan before mentioned calling for large anpro-
priations which we have had to provide for. Among
of Tomnson Hall, then partly completed. which has
required an outlay since Jan. l, 1880, Of $67 200;
patents (balance) 81, 600 During the year we have
also built the market house, at cost to date. of
over $3.50, 900 It will thus be seen that over 500
900 has been paid out during the year for permanent
improvements. and in this sum | do not include the
Delawarestreet sewer the cedar block pavement, the
Circle Park walks, and other like works. 1t will
not be wondered at therefore, that the finance
committee has had to borrow the 100000 for six
and twelve months, negotiated last month, in practical
renewal of the mporary loan of 1888. Neither will
it strange if the committee finds it to
make still further loan of $40, 900 or $50. 900 to
carry the city till the current taxes begin to
| come in
full itemized report of receipts and expendi-
lures for TIE year will be submitted to you by the
treasurer and city clerk and hence will not attempt
to go into particulars myself. 1t is sufficient for me
say, in general way that the public not Justly
complain of your years work 1t has only been by
practcing strict economy in all matters where you
could yourselves control the expenditures that
able to make the very favorable showing which
have in general way outlined
Our largest outlays, within the regular course
of municipal affairs have been quite beyond our con
troll. The expenditures in of the most expensive
departments of the city government is arbitrarily
placed by law In other hands Several contracts
voving large expenditures had been already entered
into by predecessors for term OF years when the
financial outlook was more hopeful than It is now
These contracts have of course had to be fulfilled;
and all with possible exception will have to be
still complied with, the same basis to the end of
our term.
Then again net annual interest account is
than 800, coo. In conjunction with your finance
committee, tried during the first months of last year
arrange to speedily refund at least portion of our
Indebtedness at lower rate OF interest. In tins,
however utterly failed The holders of cur bonds
/, l. 1880 decline to renew them at a lower rate at
least until their maturity.
With these things clearly marked out for our
Coming year. While it may not be pleasant for
you to deny many needed improvements to your con-
sttuents yet it is very obvious that few public i'm
provements in parson with former years. can be
made
ing in July last i'll reducing the appraisement of tax
able property IN this city and future income
: IL per cent, as compared with former years, viii
have the effect to cut down thar
500 900 this year, and makes it necessary for t.
i possibly be done will not now offer any sugges
tions as to whereI believe cuts should be made, bu
hope the official boards and committees regulating
controlling expenditures will at once meet and thor
oughy discuss the present financial condition of tn
city. After this has been done, estimates should b
placed at the lowest possible amounts and such re
auctions should then be made in the pay.rols of tn
u departments as will certainly bring tn
years expenditures, within such a., estimates mates
expenditures, no allowance should be made accoun
of any expected legislative relief at the approachin
given will not likely become available until 1885,
And if, perchance, some legislation of special char
before the end Of the YEAR the extra sum
will all be needed to reduce or pay off the $50 600
our recent temporary loan falling due Dec. Is.
In this connection may be pardoned for ndulgn
the hope that the Legislature at its coming session
will take steps to carry out at least, some features
the plan recently suggested by Alderman Wright,
reference to adding ground to the State hous
square for park purposes. BY doing the Stat
park in Keeping with the magnificent building it hs
erected for comparatively small outlay and failn
to do so will, am sure be source of regret to a
the people of the State in the years to come
Steps have already been taken to have the remain
ing pieces of the Ton,linson real estate, except tt
Dispensary lot appraised in anticipation of maxim
early sales of the think the city should Sc
this property as possible, as 1T will not
carrying out its agreement with Mrs. Tonnson if
does not do Besides the city has borrowed none
to finish paying for Tominson Hail. which should b.
as as possible replaced with the proceeds arsir
from the sale of this real estate. understand. ais
that there is likely to be good offer made for ii
Dispensary lot soon. If this should be done wou
recommend its sale, too; for. without expensive r
pairs the building viii soon be utterly unfit for Il
uses of the Dispensary. and have doubt the Gil
could readily rent rooms better suited for such pu
poses for less than the interest the value of TIL
\ property.
| Among the improvements which cannot be niue
longer delayed is that OF Washington street for
era squares at least along the busiest part thereo
As it is understood that this Improvement W
be made during the coming summer, l would sugge
that the engineer be directed to at once begin Il
work of preparing estimates of the cost of all the
- Gus kinds of material which have been spoken of
connection with the same so that meeting Of pro
erty-owners may be called to decide if possibl
40, what character of street shall be made before the
md dinance Is introduced IN 'ls connection would So
durability of brick recently adopted at son
ate points in the East which prominently referred
in one of our daily papers short time ago.
AS progress has been made toward getting
or. streetcar line to Crown Hill since my last ref